Cook for Good Regular Shopping List, Winter 2009
This shopping list will provide for a thrifty, healthy, and delicious diet for a family of four, showing prices from January 2009. [Update: for November 2009, the average meal using this list cost only $1.07.] This list was created with price in mind to help keep you on your food budget. The sizes that go with the prices given are shown, but of course get the best deal you can. For example, the 28-ounce jar of peanut butter was a better buy this month than the 40-ounce jar that I usually buy. Where it seemed helpful, I included the total quantity to help you figure out the best buy, such as getting one 10-pound bag of flour instead of two 5-pound bags. Compare this list to the green shopping list, which has all the same items with one exception: replacing the bottled lemon juice with fresh lemons, but shows the sizes and prices available for regular products.
How to use this list
Shop from this list to make all the meals shown on the menu plan for a month. Or use it as a starting point for your own menu plan and a price check for products at the store.
| item |
section |
quantity |
size |
price each |
price total |
total quantity |
| baking powder |
baking |
1 |
10-ounces |
$1.69 |
$1.69 |
| baking soda |
baking |
1 |
8-ounces |
$0.46 |
$0.46 |
| brown sugar |
baking |
2 |
pounds |
$0.89 |
$1.78 |
| cocoa |
baking |
1 |
8-ounces |
$2.33 |
$2.33 |
| corn meal |
baking |
1 |
2-pound bag |
$1.25 |
$1.25 |
| corn starch |
baking |
1 |
pound |
$1.30 |
$1.30 |
| flour, all-purpose |
baking |
2 |
5-pound bags |
$2.09 |
$4.18 |
10 pounds |
| flour, white wheat |
baking |
2 |
5-pound bags |
$4.99 |
$9.98 |
10 pounds |
| sugar |
baking |
1 |
5-pound bag |
$2.49 |
$2.49 |
| walnuts |
baking |
1 |
pound |
$6.24 |
$6.24 |
| yeast, rapid rise |
baking |
1 |
4-ounce jar |
$7.14 |
$7.14 |
| oats |
cereal |
1 |
18-ounce box |
$1.59 |
$1.59 |
| wheat germ |
cereal |
1 |
20-ounce bag |
$5.29 |
$5.29 |
| tea |
coffee & tea |
3 |
24-bag boxes |
$1.85 |
$5.55 |
72 bags (each makes 3 cups) |
| butter |
dairy |
3 |
pounds |
$3.59 |
$10.77 |
| cheese, cheddar |
dairy |
1 |
1.5 pound blocks |
$5.99 |
$5.99 |
|
| cheese, mozzarella |
dairy |
3 |
pounds |
$4.89 |
$14.67 |
| cheese, parmesan |
dairy |
5 |
6-ounce bags |
$2.50 |
$22.50 |
1 pound, 14 ounces |
| eggs |
dairy |
3 |
dozen |
$1.79 |
$5.37 |
| milk, fresh 2% |
dairy |
4 |
gallon |
$3.69 |
$14.76 |
| yogurt for starter |
dairy |
2 |
6-ounce containers |
$0.60 |
$1.20 |
12 ounces |
| dried fruit, raisins |
fruit |
2 |
2-pounds box |
$3.29 |
$6.58 |
4 pounds |
| beans, black |
grains |
2 |
pounds |
$1.17 |
$2.34 |
| beans, black-eyed peas |
grains |
1 |
pound |
$0.79 |
$0.79 |
| beans, chickpea |
grains |
2 |
pounds |
$1.99 |
$3.98 |
| beans, kidney |
grains |
2 |
pounds |
$1.53 |
$3.06 |
| beans, pinto |
grains |
2 |
pounds |
$1.17 |
$2.34 |
| beans, split peas or lentils |
grains |
2 |
pounds |
$0.90 |
$1.80 |
| couscous |
grains |
2 |
10-ounce packages |
$1.91 |
$3.82 |
1 pound, 4 ounces |
| rice |
grains |
5 |
pounds |
$1.11 |
$5.55 |
| burritos, flour large (10") |
grocery |
2 |
packages (10 burritoes) |
$2.29 |
$4.58 |
20 burritoes |
| honey |
grocery |
1 |
24-ounce jar |
$5.29 |
$5.29 |
| hot sauce |
grocery |
1 |
6-ounce jar |
$0.92 |
$0.92 |
| peanut butter |
grocery |
6 |
28-ounce jars |
$3.69 |
$22.14 |
10.5 pounds (or four 40-ounce jars) |
| real lemon |
grocery |
1 |
15-ounce jar |
$1.99 |
$1.99 |
| rotini, high protein |
grocery |
10 |
14.5-ounce box |
$2.05 |
$20.50 |
| tomatoes, crushed |
grocery |
12 |
28-ounce can |
$1.81 |
$21.72 |
21 pounds |
| tomatoes, diced |
grocery |
12 |
28-ounce can |
$1.81 |
$21.72 |
21 pounds |
| vinegar |
grocery |
2 |
16-ounce jar |
$1.23 |
$2.46 |
32 ounces |
| soy sauce |
internat. |
1 |
10-ounce jar |
$1.49 |
$1.49 |
| tahini |
internat. |
1 |
15-ounce can |
$6.99 |
$6.99 |
| oil, corn |
oil |
1 |
32-ounce bottle |
$2.35 |
$2.35 |
| oil, olive |
oil |
2 |
16-ounce bottle |
$3.49 |
$6.98 |
32 ounces |
| bananas |
produce |
38 |
pounds |
$0.69 |
$26.22 |
| broccoli |
produce |
7 |
bunches |
$2.19 |
$15.33 |
| cabbage, green |
produce |
2 |
pounds |
$0.69 |
$1.38 |
| carrots |
produce |
3 |
5-pound bags |
$2.99 |
$8.97 |
15 pounds |
| fruit, apples |
produce |
20 |
pounds |
$1.29 |
$25.80 |
| garlic |
produce |
8 |
heads |
$0.69 |
$5.52 |
| ginger |
produce |
0.20 |
pound |
$3.99 |
$0.80 |
| green beans |
produce |
3 |
pounds |
$1.79 |
$5.37 |
| greens, kale or collards |
produce |
2 |
pounds |
$1.19 |
$2.38 |
| greens, lettuce |
produce |
4 |
pounds |
$1.89 |
$7.56 |
| onions (total med. equiv) |
produce |
4 |
3-pound bags |
$2.89 |
$11.56 |
12 pounds |
| oranges |
produce |
5 |
8-pound bags |
$4.99 |
$24.95 |
40 pounds |
| parsley |
produce |
4 |
bunch |
$0.89 |
$3.56 |
1 pound |
| peppers, green |
produce |
19 |
each |
$1.99 |
$37.81 |
| potatoes, all-purpose |
produce |
2 |
5-pound bags |
$4.99 |
$9.98 |
10 pounds |
| potatoes, sweet |
produce |
6 |
pounds |
$0.99 |
$5.94 |
| bay leaves |
spices |
1 |
0.12-ounce jar |
$2.77 |
$2.77 |
| cinnamon |
spices |
1 |
2-ounce jar |
$1.49 |
$1.49 |
| cumin |
spices |
1 |
7-ounce container |
$2.99 |
$2.99 |
| salt |
spices |
1 |
28-ounce package |
$0.47 |
$0.47 |
| vanilla |
spices |
1 |
2-ounce bottle |
$2.21 |
$2.21 |
